Damien Hirst's best friend and chum to the Blur boys, Keith Allen has contributed to many aspects of the British art scene. But Allen's film roles have tended to be on the periphery; important but never the lead.

In Shallow Grave (1994) he was the soon-deceased tenant; in Trainspotting (1996) he was the silent drug dealer; and in FilmFour's Blue Juice (1995) he lurked in the background of his character's recording studios.

More recently, Allen cropped up in his brother Kevin's directoral debut Twin Town (1997) and co-starred in the Brit-pack gangster flick Rancid Aluminium. He has recently appeared in Alejandro Amenbar's supernatural thriller The Others (2001) and the Madchester biopic 24 Hour Party People (2002)